Backplate for shelf rack

ABSTRACT

A backplate is directly hooked at two outmost ends to two opposite inner vertical metal bars on two rear posts of a shelf rack, so that things may be safely positioned on the rack against the backplate. The backplate includes a long and narrow transverse plate, a fixed mounting bracket fixedly connected to each lateral end of the transverse plate, and a movable mounting bracket pivotally and sideward movably connected to the fixed mounting bracket. The movable mounting bracket has a hooking recess provided at an outer end for engaging with one of the two opposite inner vertical metal bars, and a second elastic retaining head forward protruded from a middle portion for tightly pressing against an inner side of a rearward protruded first elastic retaining head formed at an outer end of the fixing mounting bracket to thereby fasten the fixed and the movable mounting brackets to one another.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a backplate for shelf rack, and more particularly, to a backplate for mounting to a rear side of a shelf rack to increase the structural strength of the shelf rack and allow things to be safely positioned on the rack against the backplate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various storing devices are provided in houses, offices, and all kinds of working places for holding and/or storing different things. The storing devices may be generally divided into two types, namely, fixed storing devices that are not easily disassembled, and sectional storing devices that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The sectional storing devices have the advantages of easy to store and transport, reducing transportation cost, and increasing market competition ability.

The sectional storing devices may be further divided into two groups, a first one of which must be assembled and disassembled using any tool, while the second one is not. Sectional storing devices that can be assembled, mounted, and/or disassemble without using any tool are most welcome by consumers. FIG. 1 shows a sectional shelf rack 1 that has been sold in the market for many years. The shelf rack 1 has two side supports 10 and a plurality of shelves 11 mounted on and between the two side supports 10. Each of the side supports 11 includes a front and a rear post, each of which includes two vertical metal bars parallelly arranged side by side. Two intersected metal bars are mounted to a rear side of the shelf rack 1 to increase the structural strength of the shelf rack 1. However, even with the intersected metal bars provided at the rear side, the shelf rack 1 has poor structural strength and tends to sway, and is therefore not suitable to have a large size or hold heavy things.

Moreover, the conventional shelf rack 1 of FIG. 1 does not include any backplate. Things positioned on the shelves 11 would possibly fall off the rack 1 from the rear side thereof to largely reduce the function of the shelf rack 1.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a backplate that could be quickly mounted to a rear side of a shelf rack to enhance the structural strength of the shelf rack and the function thereof, so as to overcome the drawbacks in the conventional sectional shelf rack 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a backplate for mounting to a rear side of a shelf rack by directly hooking two outmost ends of the backplate to two opposite inner vertical metal bars on two rear posts of the shelf rack, so that things may be positioned on shelves of the rack against the backplate.

The backplate for shelf rack according to the present invention functions to tightly connect two side supports of the shelf rack to each other, so as to increase the structural strength of the shelf rack.

The backplate for shelf rack according to the present invention includes a long and narrow transverse plate forming a major part of the backplate, a fixed mounting bracket fixedly connected to each lateral end of the transverse plate, and a movable mounting bracket pivotally and sideward movably connected to the fixed mounting bracket. The movable mounting bracket has a hooking recess provided at an outer end for engaging with one of the two opposite inner vertical metal bars on the rear posts of the shelf rack, and a second elastic retaining head forward protruded from a middle portion for tightly contacting with a rearward protruded first elastic retaining head formed at an outer end of the fixed mounting bracket to thereby fasten the fixed and the movable mounting brackets to one another.

When the backplate for shelf rack according to the present invention has been mounted to the rear side of the shelf rack, the two movable mounting brackets exert a force to tightly pull the two opposite inner vertical metal bars toward one another, so that the backplate is stably assembled to the shelf rack.

The transverse plate of the backplate for shelf rack may be a flat board or a metal grid welded from a plurality of intersected metal bars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional shelf rack;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a backplate for shelf rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 a fragmentary exploded rear perspective view of the backplate for shelf rack shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing a shelf rack having the backplate of FIG. 2 mounted thereto;

FIGS. 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 are top views showing the procedures of mounting the backplate of FIG. 2 to a shelf rack;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing the backplate of FIG. 2 having been mounted to a shelf rack; and

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view showing a backplate for shelf rack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3 that are assembled and fragmentary exploded rear perspective views, respectively, of a backplate 3 for shelf rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and to FIG. 4 that is a front perspective view of a shelf rack 2 having the backplate 3 mounted to a rear side thereof. As shown, the shelf rack 2 for use with the backplate 3 includes at least two side supports 20 and a plurality of shelves 21 mounted on and between two adjacent side supports 20. Each of the side supports 20 includes at least a front and a rear post, each of which is formed from two vertical metal bars 22 parallelly arranged side by side.

The backplate 3 includes a transverse plate 30, a fixed mounting bracket 40 fixedly connected to each lateral end of the transverse plate 30, and a movable mounting bracket 50 pivotally and sideward movably connected to each of the fixed mounting brackets 40. The transverse plate 30 is a long narrow plate to form a major part of the backplate 3. The movable mounting bracket 50 is pivotally turnable and sidewardly movable relative to the corresponding fixed mounting bracket 40.

The fixed mounting bracket 40 included a rearward protruded first elastic retaining head 41 located at an outer end of the bracket 40. The movable mounting bracket 50 includes a forward protruded second elastic retaining head 51 located near a middle portion of the bracket 50. When the fixed mounting bracket 40 has been completely fastened to the corresponding movable mounting bracket 50, the second elastic retaining head 51 is held to an inner side of the first elastic retaining head 41. The movable mounting bracket 50 is formed at an outer end with a hooking recess 52 for engaging with an inner one of the two parallel vertical metal bars 22 constituting the rear post of the side support 20 of the shelf rack 2, so as to connect an end of the transverse plate 3 to the side support 20, as shown in FIG. 4.

The fixed mounting bracket 40 is formed with a guide way 42 that extends a predetermined distance in both longitudinal and transverse directions. An inner end of the movable mounting bracket 50 is formed into two vertically spaced rings designed to separately locate above and below the guide way 42. A pivot pin 53 is vertically located in the guide way 42 with upper and lower ends fixedly engaged with the two rings at the inner end of the movable mounting bracket 50, such that the movable mounting bracket 50 is held to the fixed mounting bracket 40 by the pivot pin 53 to sidewardly move in the guide way 42. Moreover, the movable mounting bracket 50 may also be turned about the pivot pin 53, so that the fixed and the movable mounting bracket 40, 50 may be operated to turn away from or toward each other.

To mount the backplate 3 to a rear side of the shelf rack 2, first engage the hooking recesses 52 of the movable mounting brackets 50 at two lateral ends of the transverse plate 30 with the inner vertical metal bars 22 on two rear posts of two adjacent side supports 20, as shown in FIG. 5-1. Then, move the transverse plate 30 rearward, so that the two fixed mounting brackets 40 are approached to the movable mounting bracket 50 while the pivot pins 53 are sidewardly moved toward inner ends of the guide ways 42 to gradually shorten an overall length of the backplate 3, as shown in FIG. 5-2. When the two fixed mounting brackets 40 are completely fastened to the movable mounting brackets 50, the two second elastic retaining heads 51 are firmly held to inner sides of the two first elastic retaining heads 41, and the two hooking recesses 52 of the movable mounting brackets 50 tightly pull the two opposite inner vertical metal bars 22 toward one another, causing the backplate 3 to firmly fix to and between two adjacent side supports 20, as shown in FIG. 5-3. It is observed the movable mounting brackets 50 may be moved laterally outward in the guide ways 42 before the first and the second elastic retaining heads 41, 51 are fully fastened to one another, making the overall length of the backplate 3 between two opposite hooking recesses 52 larger than a fixed distance between the two opposite inner vertical metal bars 22, and accordingly allowing the two hooking recesses 52 to be easily engaged with the two inner vertical metal bars 22. When the first elastic retaining heads 41 of the fixed mounting brackets 40 have been completely fastened to the second elastic retaining heads 51 of the movable mounting brackets 50, the inner ends of the movable mounting brackets 50 are located at the inner ends of the guide ways 42 of the fixed mounting brackets 40 to shorten the overall length of the backplate 3. At this point, the backplate 3 is tightly held to and between the two opposite inner metal bars 22 without the risk of separating from or moving upward or downward on the shelf rack 2.

When the backplate 3 has been mounted to the shelf rack 2, a distance between a left inner wall surface of the hooking recess 52 of the left movable mounting bracket 50 and a right inner wall surface of the hooking recess 52 of the right movable mounting bracket 50 is slightly smaller than a distance between a left outer side of the left inner vertical metal bar 22 and a right outer side of the right inner vertical metal bar 22, so that the mounted backplate 3 is able to tightly pull the two opposite inner vertical metal bars 22 toward each other. Meanwhile, the first elastic retaining heads 41 and the corresponding second elastic retaining heads 51 are caused to tightly contact with one another, allowing the movable and the fixed mounting brackets 50 and 40 to more tightly join together.

The hooking recess 52 of the movable mounting bracket 50 is rearward opened, and the backplate 3 may be conveniently mounted to the rear side of the shelf rack 2 from a front side of the rack 2. Things positioned on the shelves 21 against the backplate 3 would further ensure a secure connection of the backplate 3 to the shelf rack 2 without the risk of loosening therefrom. It is noted a line extended between the pivot pin 53 and the hooking recess 52 of the movable mounting bracket 50 is located behind the contacting position between the first and the second elastic retaining heads 41, 51. This design ensures that the backplate 3 is normally firmly connected to the shelf rack 2 unless it is subjected to an external force.

The fixed mounting bracket 40 may be made of a sheet metal material with the first elastic retaining head 41 being rolled to provide a curved contact surface with the second elastic retaining head 51. Similarly, the movable mounting bracket 50 may be made of a sheet metal material with the second elastic retaining head 51 being rolled to provide a curved contact surface with the first elastic retaining head 41. When the first and the second elastic retaining heads 41, 51 are forced to contact with one another, they are automatically deformed for the second elastic retaining heads 51 to forward pass beyond the first elastic retaining heads 41 and thereby fasten the movable mounting brackets 50 to the fixed mounting brackets 40. Since the first and the second elastic retaining heads 41, 51 contact with and bear against one another at curved contact surfaces, which automatically deform when being compressed, the first and the second elastic retaining heads 41, 51 are very easily fastened to one another.

On the fixed mounting bracket 40 made of a sheet metal material, the guide way 42 may be formed by cutting the metal material at a predetermined position along a predetermined path, so that the metal material may be so processed to include two parts with a fore and aft location difference between them. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of the two parts located behind the other part of the sheet metal material forms a sideward and outward projected subplate 43, which is properly bent at an outer end to define the guide way 42 between the two parts of the metal material of the fixed mounting bracket 40.

In the preferred embodiment, the transverse plate 30 is a flat board, which may be made of a wood, a plastic, or a metal material. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the backplate 3 includes a transverse plate 30′ in the form of a metal grid welded from a plurality of intersected metal bars, as shown in FIG. 7.

The backplate for shelf rack according to the present invention has the advantages of simple in structure, easy to mount, strong enough for things on the shelves of the shelf rack to bear against, and making the shelf rack more stably and convenient for use. What is most important is the backplate tightly pulls two opposite side supports of the shelf rack toward each other, giving the shelf rack an enhanced overall structural strength and accordingly prolonged service life. 

1. A backplate for shelf rack, said shelf rack including at least two side supports having a rear post each, and each of said rear posts being formed from at least two vertical metal bars parallelly arranged side by side; said backplate comprising: a transverse plate being a long and narrow member to constitute a major part of said backplate; a fixed mounting bracket fixedly connected to each lateral end of said transverse plate; and said fixed mounting bracket being formed at an outer end with a rearward protruded first elastic retaining head; and a movable mounting bracket having an inner end pivotally connected to and sidewardly movable relative to each of said fixed mounting brackets; and each of said movable mounting brackets being formed at an outer end with a hooking recess for engaging with an inner one of said two parallel vertical metal bars forming one said rear post, and near a middle portion with a forward protruded second elastic retaining head; whereby when said two movable mounting brackets have been connected at said hooking recesses to two opposite inner vertical metal bars on two rear posts of said shelf rack and said transverse plate is moved rearward, said fixed mounting brackets are approached to and finally fastened to said movable mounting brackets with said second elastic retaining heads tightly pressing against inner sides of said first elastic retaining heads to firmly hold the movable mounting brackets to said fixed mounting brackets.
 2. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said fixed mounting brackets has a guide way formed thereon to extend by a predetermined distance in both vertical and transverse directions; and each of said movable mounting brackets being pivotally connected to and sidewardly movable relative to said fixed mounting bracket by vertically inserting a pivot pin in said guide way with upper and lower ends of said pivot pin fixedly connected to said inner end of said movable mounting bracket.
 3. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and said second elastic retaining head are tightly pressed against each other at a position located in front of a line extended between said pivot pin and said hooking recess of said movable mounting bracket.
 4. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first elastic retaining head on said fixed mounting bracket is formed by rolling a sheet metal, and has a curved contact surface with said second elastic retaining head.
 5. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second elastic retaining head on said movable mounting bracket is formed by rolling a sheet metal, and has a curved contact surface with said first elastic retaining head.
 6. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two movable mounting brackets of said backplate having been mounted to said shelf rack exert a force to tightly pull said two opposite inner vertical metal bars toward each other.
 7. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hooking recesses on said two movable mounting brackets are rearward opened.
 8. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transverse plate is a flat board.
 9. The backplate for shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transverse plate is a metal grid welded from a plurality of intersected metal bars. 